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obsessive-compulsive

American  
[uhb-ses-iv-kuhm-puhl-siv] / əbˈsɛs ɪv kəmˈpʌl sɪv /

adjective

  1. noting or relating to a personality characterized by perfectionism, indecision, conscientiousness, concern with detail, rigidity, and inhibition.

  2. Psychiatry. noting or relating to a disorder or neurosis characterized by persistent intrusion of unwanted thoughts (obsessions) or the performance of actions, as repeated hand-washing, that one is unable to stop (compulsions).

    obsessive-compulsive disorder.


noun

  1. a person having obsessive-compulsive traits.

Etymology

Origin of obsessive-compulsive

First recorded in 1925–30; obsessive ( def. ) + compulsive ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Many neurological and psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and some forms of brain injury, can make it difficult for people to apply existing skills in new situations.

From Science Daily

From a diagnostic standpoint, it overlaps with obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and trauma-related syndromes.

From The Wall Street Journal

Tony Shalhoub suits up in brown once again as the obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk in “Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie,” premiering Friday on Peacock.

From Los Angeles Times

She weaned him off clozapine entirely in 2018 and Cauchi also stopped taking medication to treat his obsessive-compulsive disorder the year after, she said.

From BBC

Last year, he starred in the romantic drama “Turtles All the Way Down,” the film adaptation of John Green’s young adult novel that explores the complexities of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

From Los Angeles Times